March 13, 2012

Washington, DC: 100 years of turning Japanese.

Each year, Washington, D.C.'s National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the gift of over 3,000 Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the City of Washington on March 27, 1912. The 100th anniversary "expanded" celebration this year is March 20-April 27. The National Park Service's peak bloom prediction this year? The best guess is between March 24 and March 31--early this year, and due to the mild winter. Peak bloom happens for the Park Service when 70% of the blossoms that surround the Tidal Basin are open. It is also defined as the first day in the Spring when the Irish Embassy's entire Press and Information staff can be found still at lunch past 3:00 pm at Kelly's Irish Times saloon on F Street.